The Globe. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1879.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1585, 19 March 1879, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1879.

A paeagraph which appeared in yesterday's issue of the " Press " relative to delays in the Public Trustee office, discloses such a state of thing as calls for immediate action on the part of the Government. So far as we can gather from the facts put before us, an estate came into the hands of the Public Trustee, one of the assets of which conconsisted of an insurance policy which, in default of a will, became the property of the deceased's wife and children. It appears that, despite the applications made to the Public Trustee some months have elapsed and no sign has yet been made that the money is about to be paid to those who so sorely Deed it. The forethought of the husband and father in taking precautions that his family should not be rendered entirely destitute have, to a great extent, been frustrated by the circumlocution of the Public Trustee office. If the Government wish, as we believe they do, to inculcate prudential and thrifty habits in the working classes, and to induce them to take advantage of the Government Insurance scheme to that end, they must also take care that those entitled to the results of that thrift are not kept out of its enjoyment by red tapeism. In niue cases out of ten the class for whose benefit the scheme of Government Life Insurance is mainly designed never think of making a will. Any property, therefore, of which they may die possossed will pass through the Public Trustee office. But surely, after all forms have been satisfactorily complied with, there is no necessity to retain the money for months, leaving the widow and children to subsist aa best they can. In the case alluded to, it was fortunate that the deceased belonged to one of those friondly societies which are a godsend to the working man. The money receivable from that society enabled the family to keep the wolf from the door for a time, and when that supply was exhausted it fell back upon the benevolence —always ungrudgingly extended —of the members of the same institution. We trust that now public attention has been directed to this matter, the Government will tako such stops as will prevent a recurrence of such a scandal.

The rocent prosecutions in Dunedin for holding what are known as "consultaj tions" show that a peculiar state of things exists. In Dunedin, according to the decision of tho Resident Magistrate, consultations are unlawful; at any rate the promoters of one kave been fined £lO. But, although this apparently obtains ia

Dunedin, it does not appear to hold good here. The same law is evidently not in force in Canterbury, although the colony is one district as far as regards laws. Lee anyone look at the various newspapers hero, and he will fiud advertisement after advertisement of " consultations." We do not express any opinion now upon the subject of whether thoho "consultations'' are right or wrong. What we desire to point out is tho imfairnoss of fining people in one part of the colony for what they can do with impunity in another. This is what should not be. Either there should ho an absolute prohibition or theso events should bo allowed to bo got up unchecked. There is no middle course. " Consultations" are either lawful, or unlawful, and tho moro fact of their being hold in a particular part of the colony can in no way affect tho real bearings of the case.

We presume that Mr. Wilson's notice of motion at last night's sitting of the City Council was the necessary corollary of the motion passed a short time since by tho Dunodin City Council. Tho motion will bo to tho effect " that, considering Christchurch is tho most convenient centre of tho South Island, tho Government bo respoctfully requested to place a sum of money upon the estimates for providing a suitable residence for the Governor of New Zealand at or near the city, and that a committee be appointed to see what sites are available, tho result of their enquiry to be forwarded to the Government" The Mayor of Dunedin, when speaking in favor of the resolution passed by his Council on the 11th inst., to the effect that Dunedin was the place of places where vice-royalty should flourish and be at home, evoked several brilliant arguments in favour of the proposition. He said:—"ln tho North Island, the Governor is provided with a residence in Wellington and Auckland. In this Island we have Christchurch on the one side, and InvorcargiU on the other, without a residence, and Dunedin being the central place, I think we are entitled to have some sort of a residence provided for him here." The argument is not very clear, but the Mayor's hearers thought more of the sentiment conveyed than tho cogoncy of tho logic. Then the Mayor proceeded to say that it was somewhat humiliating for tho Governor of a colony, whenever ho went to Dunedin, to have to go to the Club, and frequently to turn that establishment upside down; besides members of the Council, who wero prepared to do honour to Her Majesty's representative, did not feel at homo when they wero compelled to greot him there! At this stage a suppressed guffaw was hoard, which the Mayor sternly repressed. If all City Councils work their will, how many Governor's residences shall we have p They will as thickly sprinkle the land as do the Khedive's palaces sprinkle Egypt. In point of fact the matter is not one to be initiated by City Councils. If a southern residence for the Governor is to be formed, lot the place and everything connected with it be settled by the Colonial Parliament. It is a national matter, and not a question as to whether this or that City Council wishes to bask in the smiles of Vice-Royalty. However, we feel glad that Mr Wilson has brought forward his motion. It will help towards bringing the idea that the matter is a civic one to its proper level.